Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Was Anne Boleyn treated as queen in the Tower of London?

Thank you so much to Edith and Lucy the dog for their excellent question regarding Anne Boleyn's imprisonment in the Tower of London in May 1536.
 
In series like The Tudors, Anne Boleyn is shown being treated like a queen even though she's a prisoner, and she's shown being attended by ladies-in-waiting? But is this true? That's what Edith and Lucy want to know.
 
In this talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown", talks about where in the Tower Anne Boleyn was imprisoned and who attended her during that time. Claire also considers whether Anne was forced to watch the executions of the men, and who accompanied her to the scaffold on 19th May 1536.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/zr-wy1DJsac
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
 

Henry Howard loses favour, purple fever takes an ambassador, and a Tudor judge and law reporter

In this first part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey’s loss of royal favour after the English defeat in France, but his children’s joy at the news of him returning home; ambassador Sir Henry Unton (or Umpton) who was killed in France by the "purple fever", and Sir James Dyer, a Chief Justice who has gone down in history as the first law reporter.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/9fV6-17YkJA
 
22nd March 1546 - Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, lands at Calais to relieve Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, as King Henry VIII's lieutenant general. Find out what had happened, why Surrey had fallen out of favour and what happened next.
 
23rd March 1596 - The death of Sir Henry Unton, resident ambassador in France, from "a violent, burning fever" which was described as the "purple fever". Find out about Unton's life and career.
 
24th March 1582 - Death of judge, law reporter, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir James Dyer, at the age of 72.
 
Book recommendation: Henry VIII's Last Victim: The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey by Jessie Childs.
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
 

A secret agent & rebel, Henry VIII's barber, More's granddaughter, and a Puritan soldier

in this second part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire Ridgway introduces Sir Christopher Blount, a secret agent and rebel who married his master’s widow and whose stepson, the Earl of Essex was his undoing; Edmund Harman, the man who trimmed and washed King Henry VIII’s hair and beard, and who was rewarded for it; Mary Bassett, Sir Thomas More's granddaughter, who was a highly educated Tudor woman and gifted translator; and Sir John Leveson (pronounced Looson), a Puritan and soldier whose later life was marred by a falling out over money.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/YD9Fxxn3MLI
 
18th March 1601 - The execution of Sir Christopher Blount, husband of Lettice Knollys (other married names: Devereux and Dudley), and stepfather of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. He was executed for treason after support the 1601 Essex's Rebellion.
 
19th March 1577 - Death of Edmund Harman, former barber to King Henry VIII and a man who is depicted in Hans Holbein the Younger’s painting, Henry VIII and the Barber Surgeons.
 
20th March 1572 - Death of Mary Bassett (née Roper), granddaughter of Sir Thomas More and a gifted translator.
 
21st March 1555 - Birth of Puritan Sir John Leveson, Kent landowner and Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, at Whornes Place in Cuxton in Kent.
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/

Cromwell, Wolsey and Wolf Hall

Thank you so much to Emilie and the super cute Nathaniel the dog for asking about the real relationship between Thomas Cromwell and his master, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
 
Were the two men as close as they were shown in Wolf Hall? How did Cromwell feel about Wolsey's fall? You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBeAEJHvDNs
 
Historian Claire Ridgway answers these questions and also explains the history behind a scene in Hilary Mantel's second novel in the series, Bring Up the Bodies, in which Cromwell vows revenge on those involved in Wolsey's fall and in mocking him.
 
Here are links to read Cavendish’s two volume biography of Wolsey:Volume 1 - https://archive.org/details/lifecardinalwol01presgoog/ Volume 2 - https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.37226 

An interview with Claire Ridgway

In this interview journalism students, Merel and Emma, ask historian Claire Ridgway about the Tudor Society, including questions such as: “why did you (claire) start the Tudor Society”, “Do you (Claire) have any dreams for the Tudor Society?” and a quickfire round in which you can find out who Claire’s favourite Tudor Monarch is and with which Tudor she would have a cup of tea!
You can see this interview here:https://youtu.be/Ze_u4mAX_vg
Why not try out the Tudor Society with the trial which available here:https://www.TudorSociety.com/ref/68

A monk who embraced reform, a translator & soldier, and Black Will Herbert

In this first part of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 15th March, historian and author Claire Ridgway looks at the life and career of a bishop who started out as a monk but whose conversion to the reformed faith saw him dying an awful death in the reign of Queen Mary I, before moving on to the death of a soldier, translator and diplomat in Henry VIII's reign, and the death of a Tudor earl and brother-in-law of a queen who was once known as Black Will Herbert.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/zHsl0AvXRAY
 
15th March 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I - John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester, was deprived of his bishopric while imprisoned in Fleet Prison. He had been charged with owing over five hundred pounds in unpaid first fruits, a charge he denied. He was later burnt at the stake. He'd started his career as a Cistercian monk though!
 
16th March 1533, in the reign of King Henry VIII -  soldier, translator and diplomat, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, died at Calais, while serving as Deputy of Calais. He was a translator of some renown.
 
17th March 1570, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, soldier, courtier and landowner, died at Hampton Court, aged sixty-three. "Black Will Herbert" had served Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, and was the brother-in-law of Queen Catherine Parr.
 
Claire's video on the burning of John Hooper - https://youtu.be/dE_mtQMSHVA
 
Other Tudor events on these dates:
 
March 15 - Henry VIII uses foul language! - https://youtu.be/z_7negTJ728
 
March 15 - The Lady Mary causes a stir in London - https://youtu.be/BuULiz0yXeI
 
March 16 - Richard Burbage, actor and friend of Shakespeare - https://youtu.be/mTvT72U5My8
 
March 16 - The martyrdom of two Catholic priests in York - https://youtu.be/Ai8crhFUUAQ
 
March 17 - Elizabeth I's Famous Tide Letter - https://youtu.be/oendk0s7eEs
 
March 17 - Alexander Alesius and his terrifying vision of Anne Boleyn - https://youtu.be/fj6N4BEMoYc

A pope who was kind to Jews, a Catholic martyr, an Elizabethan actor and a bishop who supported Welsh

In the second part of This week in Tudor history, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, who became Pope Leo X in 1513 and who was known as a patron of the Arts and his generosity to Jews, Christopher Bales, a Catholic priest and martyr from Elizabeth I’s reign; Richard Burbage,  an Elizabethan actor who was friends with William Shakespeare, and Arthur Bulkeley, a Tudor bishop who supported reform and the use of the Welsh language in sermons.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/IlgVzgw-GAw
 
11th March 1513 - Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici was proclaimed Pope Leo X.
 
12th March 1564 - The baptism of Roman Catholic priest and martyr Christopher Bales.
 
13th March 1619 - Death of Elizabethan actor, friend of William Shakespeare and theatre builder, Richard Burbage.
 
14th March 1553 - Death of Arthur Bulkeley, Bishop of Bangor, at his home in Bangor.
 
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
 
March 11 - William Warner, our English Homer - https://youtu.be/oFCIFbDA3Cg
March 11 - The wonderful deathbed words of an Elizabethan poet - https://youtu.be/91dsiYAHuEE
March 12 - The hidden remains of a treacherous monk - https://youtu.be/evs7ZvC2OoE
March 12 - The death of Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn - https://youtu.be/KhiuvNMUiyY
March 13 - A young horse causes the death of an old earl - https://youtu.be/U8HrJwKWpH0
March 13 - The hangings of conspirators Henry Cuffe and Sir Gelly Meyrick - https://youtu.be/igmANyHYDTw
March 14 - A man who served 4 monarchs and kept his head - https://youtu.be/_Lrjhj8v-So
March 14 - A mumbling judge causes problems - https://youtu.be/w2UTIzSv5uw 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
 

A Discovery of Witches and the School of Night - did it exist?

Thank you to Real Tudor Lady for the excellent question on the TV series "A Discovery of Witches" which is adapted from The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/zoYQO5FQxcI
Real Tudor Lady wanted to know if the School of Night, which included men such as Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh), Thomas Hariot, George Chapman, Matthew Roydon and Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, really existed. 
 
In this video, historian Claire Ridgway gives a brief overview of these men, looks at the origin of the School of Night theory, and examines whether these men were linked and whether they were part of an established group. 
 
Here are links to Claire's videos on Marlowe and Ralegh:
 
February 26 – Christopher Marlowe – a rather colourful character! - https://youtu.be/QnT2Qp7RuXc
June 1 - Christopher Marlowe's death and inquest - https://youtu.be/sdttnBCIIJU
Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh) - https://youtu.be/ISexLsnGKug 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/